Oscar contenders

Academy Award nominations will be announced Jan. 10, 2013. Click through to see the leading contenders in the top categories.

Fox Searchlight

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Best supporting actress contender, Helen Hunt in “The Sessions”: Her commitment to playing the role of a surrogate demonstrating sexual intercourse to a severely disabled man includes numerous nude scenes. The Academy will undoubtedly admire her courage, but it’s hard to tell whether this feeling translates into votes.

Photo: Hunt as Cheryl Cohen and John Hawkes as Mark O'Brien in a scene from "The Sessions."

Fox Searchlight

38of42

Best supporting actress contender, Helen Hunt in “The Sessions”: Her commitment to playing the role of a surrogate demonstrating sexual intercourse to a severely disabled man includes numerous nude scenes. The Academy will undoubtedly admire her courage, but it’s hard to tell whether this feeling translates into votes.

Photo: Hunt as Cheryl Cohen and John Hawkes as Mark O'Brien in a scene from "The Sessions."